“Very likely.”
“But on a closer examination, see he was full as lame for’ard; one balanced t’other, so’s he couldn’t limp. One eye had been knocked out in the fight, but the head-stall kivered that misfort’n. Brushed ’im up kerefully, and put on the shiny harness. Led him down the street, an’ met an old gent in search of a ‘spirited’ beast. Asked me if, I wanted to sell?
“ ‘No, Sir,’ sez I.
“ ‘Wot’ll you take for’m?’ sez he.
“ ‘He’s high strung,’ sez I.
“ ‘He is,’ sez he; ‘wot’s he wuth?’
“ ‘I never warrants hosses,’ sez I. ‘If you wa’t’m jest as he is. You’re a good judge o’ hosses, no doubt?’ sez I.
“ ‘Wal, I am,’ sez he.
“ ‘Very well, then; you may have’m for two hundred dollars.’
“The old gent pecked in his mouth, stroked his neck, looked very knowin’, and replied: